The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) is to meet with management and pilots' representatives in an effort to resolve a dispute that could lead to widespread disruption and cancellations of Aer Lingus flights from next week.
A meeting has been arranged for 1pm tomorrow.
The company has threatened to suspend any pilot not co-operating with the start-up of its new Belfast base from next Tuesday, in a move almost certain to lead to serious disruption and flight cancellations.
The Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) says Aer Lingus the move is tantamount to a "lock-out" which could last between six and eight weeks.
Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion wrote to all 480 pilots telling them to state in writing by next Monday, their willingness to co-operate with developing the Belfast operation or face suspension from 3am Tuesday. Seven pilots have already been suspended.
The pilots' union, Impact, of which IALPA is an affiliate, says it is willing accept new terms and conditions at Belfast but that these had not been agreed, particularly, in respect of pensions.
Impact was willing to attend talks but management refused saying the policy of not co-operating with training and recruitment of new workers for the base must first be lifted.
The union said this evening its position had not changed.
"Impact has accepted the invitation to meet and welcomes the opportunity it offers to move forward on the outstanding issues," a spokesmand said.
A spokesperson for Aer Lingus was not available for comment.
The LRC issued a short statement this evening saying: "The Commission is meeting the parties tomorrow to assess the degree to which the current position of the parties, or their willingness to develop these positions, makes a settlement of this matter possible."
The Commission's expectation is that both parties will use the opportunity presented by this engagement to work constructively to find a resolution to this dispute."
Aer Lingus yesterday said it intended to operate a full service next week, but Impact said mass suspensions would effectively shut the airline down.
Up to 15,000 passengers each day could be affected if the fleet is grounded.
One of the most controversial aspects of the Aer Lingus's development of its new base is the decision to move its Heathrow slots out of Shannon to Belfast.
There has been widespread condemnation of the decision, which opponent's say will have serious knock-on effects for businesses in the Mid West.
The Atlantic Connectivity Alliance (ACA) was created to oppose the move and today it announced it had applied for slots at Heathrow.
The application was lodged on their behalf by Astraeus Airlines, which currently operates from Gatwick, Manchester and Paris to mainly to Africa and Asia.
ACA chairman John Brassil said: "The Alliance is absolutely intent on doing everything possible to ensure continuity of a Shannon / Heathrow air link and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing this objective."
Captain John Mahon, director of flight operations with Astraeus, said the airline was expanding and the company board had decided to work with the ACA to progress the proposal.
Apart from its own routes, the company specialises in providing operational capacity to other airlines.